back to homeThe person who appoints the committee and appoints the inspectors is Sue Essex (Minister of the Environment) at the Welsh Assembly, Cathays Park, Cardiff, (her email address). You could ask her what the report into Low Impact Developments said, and what she is minded to do about it, and when.
We have received much encouragement from local people and many others to urge us to appeal against the committee's decision, so have registered an appeal (text on Latest Developments). The address to write to in our support is
Planning Inspectorate
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ.
Please quote reference no. 1095455
Thanks.
You can of course register your protest at the Park's dinosaur attitudes on their Guestbook by clicking here, then going to 'contact' and thence to 'guestbook'. Good luck! Thanks.
In an appeal, all letters and emails of support are considered and acknowledged, so if you would be prepared to write again or garner more support for us in the next few weeks, we would be most grateful.
I will leave these examples of support received for a while:
Letter from Heather Summers, local musician
Letter from Rob Roy, cordwood builder from USA
Letter to local paper from Canon Cunnane
Local email of support:
Dear Cathy Milner and others on the planning committee, Re: The meeting and decision on Mr Wrench's Roundhouse, Brithdir Mawr, Newport. I am glad that another opportunity has arisen for all of us, the authorities and the people of Pembrokeshire, to review the status of the roundhouse near Newport and what it symbolises. There are increasing numbers of us passionate and willing to make positive changes in our own lifestyles and infrastructure in the face of global folly (I refer to the current glaringly unsustainable and irresponsible industrial cultures) and governments' inability to change course fast enough. And in Pembrokeshire we have an particularly high percentage of aware and active people, as we heard in the speech by Robert Kearny of the Ethical Pembrokeshire website Launch last week (funded by the Park's EDF fund). This awareness is no doubt due in some part to the relatively rich and unspoilt nature we are surrounded by and that the Park Authority is charged with protecting. In the light of such enthusiasm, and these times of global uncertainty and more local focus it seems that the roundhouse - in its invitation to a new way of thinking; in its simplicity and harmlessness towards nature; in the way it charms all who set eyes on it (except the inspector!); in the curiosity and fame it has stirred up all around the UK - could stand for a fresh start, the beginning of a new approach, and an approach that also meets the Park's new aims and awareness. I refer to your current high profile stand on the local housing issue, which I applaud and wish you luck on. I sincerely hope it does have the desired affect of freeing up some affordable living for local people. Additionally, I hope that the issue of sustainability and low impact house design will be a priority for the planners, as Ifor Jones has indicated may be possible in his enthusiasm and support on the subject. To me they are an obvious and perfect marriage suited to the Park's objective of preserving this wonderfully rich and diverse place/people/culture we live within. These are all relevant points to the roundhouse, which houses 2 people who put in so much dedication and labour to the preserving of a rich and wild farmscape which is so hard to find in these days of agricultural industrialisation. These days even The PC National Park is badly afflicted by these dead and empty monoculture farmscapes, devoid of meadows, woods and even hedges. It is generally only through neglect and the commercial failing of a farm that we are privileged to find a thriving nature. But at Brithdir - I urge you to wander the public footpath through its fields and woods - it is through the dedication and focus of many hands that the land can support such natural diversity. It is by husbanding the land in traditional ways generally, and that which requires many workers. They have the admiration of many naturalists, professors, students and the environmental grant administrators for what they are achieving. However, many workers need many houses also, and this is an issue for a thriving low impact rural economy, which the Park is now aiming for. I'm sure you are aware that the old landscape of our county was also dotted with many modest dwellings of low income workers of the land (not holiday cottages with several vehicles parked outside) and I think the people and authorities must do all we can to support such sustainable, timeless habits where we can. I am glad therefore, that my town council has now officially registered its support of the roundhouse. It is a time when we should all be working together, and acknowledging any fresh approach as a good start; evaluating its good and bad points, and learning from the process to shape a diverse and inclusive community involved future. With this number of innovative people who want to express their care of Pembrokeshire's natural beauty working with the authorities officially caring for it, we can be an example of best practice to the rest of Britain. There is so much potential here I can be nothing but optimistic. Your sincerely, Cara Wilson, Coordinator of Green Roofs housing group, Newport. __________________________________________ The Climate Change Awareness and Action Programme The Old School Business Centre Lower St Mary Street Newport Pembrokeshire. Tel: 01239 820078 Email: climate.pembs@btconnect.com
Another way you can help us and others in our position for the future, if you live in Pembrokeshire, is to read the new joint Plan for Pembrokeshire, and write in to the County Council to urge them to extend new policy 50 on Low Impact Development to the National Park as well. Thanks.
Don't forget our guestbook on the home page.
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